Whilst the title of this collection is misleading - none of
the Tchaikovsky works could be considered masterpieces - this
is a very enjoyable and well presented and played programme.

Tchaikovsky's set of variations is a delightful divertissement,
eight variations on a simple theme which cover the whole gamut
of expression and use of technique. Bailey is a strong player
who characterises each variation well, bringing a delicious
personality to the various pieces. His lyrical playing is, by
turns, big, rich and beefy and winsome and restrained. He has
a wonderful sense of rubato, and knows when to relax and allow
the various soloists in the orchestra to take centre-stage.
If you need to sample this performance before purchasing the
disk, try the final two variations which are heart-breakingly
poignant and wildly exuberant respectively. This is a fine performance.

The first half of the Pezzo Capriccioso is far too serious
for its own good but once the boisterous high spirits start
nothing can get in the way of the forward rush of notes. The
heart-on-sleeve melancholy of the Nocturne sits uncomfortably
between the high jinks of the Pezzo and the bluff seriousness
of the opening movement of the Shostakovich Concerto.

The problem with the Shostakovich violin and cello concertos
is that they were written for two of the greatest musicians
of the 20th century - David Oistrakh and Mstislav
Rostropovich - and they both made definitive recordings of the
works so anyone making a new recording of the pieces, and new
interpretations of these works are always welcome, has a lot
to live up to. Bailey doesn't quite stamp his personality
on the first movement; good though he is I feel a little detachment
from the music. He is however magnificent in the slow movement,
his lyrical bent shining forth and the tragedy of the music
being stated simply without any added pathos. This is just about
perfect. Bailey handles the third movement cadenza without any
show of excessive display. For him it's another movement
in the piece which just happens to be unaccompanied and extremely
difficult! This is superbly musical playing. The finale is given
a rather heavier performance than we are used to but it works.
There is a feeling, which I often get from Shostakovich finales,
of a desperation with his lot, a need to shake the fist against
the world but the composer's essential humanity won't
actually allow him to really let go. That is the genius of Shostakovich:
he takes us to the edge but never pushes us over.

This is a superb disk, and even if the recording is a touch
dry - I would have liked a bit of reverberation to add some
warmth to what are excellent performances - it is very clear
and precise. Even though there is only one real masterpiece
on this disk it is enough, especially when given this thrilling
and intelligent treatment.

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